Parents
Can Advocate Effectively for Their Kids!

We think there's
a proactive, inclusive and
engaged way
for parents to interact with their children's educators. We
believe
this
approach helps prevent problems from developing...but why? and how?

Course Philosophy
This course rests on the notion that establishing a partnership begins
with two parties feeling responsible for the success of a mutual
purpose. In this case, it means parents establishing
relationships with teachers and other relevant school staff rooted
in a common sense of purpose that opens authentic
communication about
the real issues and concerns each partner has. In constructive
ways, these interactions form the base to build trust, and
to motivate everyone to make the partnership work.

How? Two things are needed to build and sustain such
partnerships. One
is
an ability to clarify the thoughts, feelings and intentions that both
parties have; to not get caught up in the stories and sense-making that
are a normal part of social interaction, but to ensure that perceptions
get tested so that people are dealing with what’s real and not what
they have made up in their heads. The second is that partnerships
work
best when people look for and align with the positive intentions that
others hold. Learning to exert influence by focusing on what you
want
more of from your partners, seeing their positive intentions and
actions, and amplifying that, is a much more effective strategy than
focusing on what you don’t want, or don’t like...and complaining about
it.